Mceachran

I could understand that being from the States, I would know a bit more about Donovan. That being said, I would say that Donovan has always been as fast if not faster than Henry. He's a beast of an athlete whose work rate off the pitch is what makes him our hero in the States.

hey so i'm going to the Paris St Germain V Chelsea game in New York (my hometown) but I've never been to a Chelsea game before. Are there any tips to how I might be able to see the players training on the other days, or how I might get an autograph from one of them? I don't know anything about this. Any useful advice would be much appreciated. Cheers.

I definitely don't want to see Sturridge go. But he does need to either be a) given full-striker responsibilities and/or b ) given a firm coaching hand so that he can make OTHERS AROUND HIM play BETTER (which is, as far as I'm concerned, what makes Torres still more valuable for us). I have faith that as long as we keep him and keep RDM, we'll be in good shape

agreed, which is why I like your previous comment about how we should wait until he's a bit older (seriously older, not 3 months older) before we cast stones or build him up as the next great british midfielder. clearly, by my namesake, you can see which I am rooting for

at any rate....we should buy kyle walker now that he can't get into the champions league fair enough. you don't need to convince me that he is an amazing footballer. it's not personal with you. it's just something i had to get off of my chest after i hear people time and time again call him the best left back in the world and then I watch laziness resulting in major goals against chelsea. i'm a passionate fan and i don't like seeing that. i also think bertrand will be just as good for us in the long run.

I never said Cole wasn't solid; I'm just talking about this invincibility everyone attaches to him. Why not let Bertrand get more chances in when we just won the Double and Cole doesn't have more than 2 years left in him? Your argument about Iva scoring more than Cole is irrelevant. I only said that because you said Bos was better going forward. Just because you actually go forward, doesn't mean you're better at it.

i'm being quite serious. I'm aware I'm being overcritical, but that's only because people keep touting him as the best. Below are the highlights of the Barcelona Match (2-2). You can feel free to watch the whole video, but the first two mistakes I remember clearly, because the second was a goal. Watch him not track back in both cases, in the beginning of the match so fatigue is not an excuse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5OaZxIO8LI&feature=related watch 00:15 and 02:35. and as always for your viewing pleasure.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXtLZ0bZYUM\ If I had all of the videos at my disposal, and endless time, I'd go on. But I hope you can at least see WHY I get very frustrated. I think he is a FANTASTIC PLAYER, just this going on about his superiority is frustrating.

he will look even better now that he has marin, hazard, mata, de bruyne, and torres to combine with

I bet you would have watched xavi when he was younger and not been able to even notice him. Comparing hazard and josh is akin to comparing c. ronaldo with xavi; I'd rather have xavi anyday...

i'm sorry, i just can't help myself..... Bos an amazing attacking right back? Maybe you're just repeating someone else. Look at the goals/crosses Iva has had, look at the goals/crosses Bos has had. When Iva get's that big a$$ of his moving, he's just as good at getting forward as Bos and his end product is unorthodox-ically superior. Dear Ashley Cole Fans, please retire with Ashley. I love his history at the club, but he has let us down in big ways this season; always just at the peripheral of the camera lens. Despite the announcers' constant massaging his ego, I invite you to really watch him in big games on defense....clearing goals off of lines doesn't count, it's much better to just prevent the attack in the first place.

\beginRant anyone who thinks we missed out by not playing sturridge more is simply a fan and not a student of the game. The kid has great skill and ability but his decision making alone is poisonous to our team's attack. I urge you the next time you watch him play (even better, watch a replay!) to see the other attackers around him get so frustrated with this horrible chemistry that it messes with their attitudes for future plays. Poison. I'm quite sick of everyone talking about how ashley cole is the best left back in the world. That's a retired position. Again, anyone closely watching our big games this year will have seen him time and time again, missing marks, getting to his man late, getting blown by 1v1, and thus causing MAJOR goals to be scored against us. The future is bright with the more humble Bertrand. \endRant

i'm not so sure the manager "gives permission". i think the manager's opinion is irrelevant in chelsea's case.

I saw too many mistakes in Moura's highlight videos. I've watched Hazard play for Lille and he can dribble AND PASS!!!

I think it is a relief to the club to be in this position. We are in a Champions League Final against a quality team, but a team that we do not have an intrinsic fear of. We have won the FA Cup, which is the only thing to be won against English teams via a playoff system; quite impressive. Now if we don't qualify for Champions League next year. So what? I think it would provide a wonderful opportunity for our team to truly rebuild. Even if it takes 2 seasons to qualify again, so what? Isn't it worth it to slip under the radar for a few seasons so that we can enjoy another 10+ years of being a DYNASTY!?!?!?!

Some specific player comments... Ramires: the only player creating anything. He has come a long way. Romeu: Looked so much shaper in his first starts, little by little I've started to think he can't cut it. Turnbull: Did anyone see his lack of hustle after his poor clearance!?!?! I honestly think if he sprinted his ass back into net he could've got a hand to it Essien: Done. Sturridge: I've slowly become disgusted by him. He's either totally selfish or a complete football-idiot and is only useful if you put him on in the last 20 minutes and tell him to just try and make something out of nothing.

i thought the smug analyst-emoticon was sufficient!!

Somehow my sarcasm did not shine through as I had hoped....

The reason why I think the Swansea move was bad is that....we don't play like Swansea. What he really needs (if he's going to help us) if for Frank to mentor him on how to be EFFICIENT. I'm just afraid he'll turn into a mikelish player. When he decides to go forward his vision/passing is almost unrivaled in the PL. but from what I've seen lately the times he has decided to go forward are too spread out. Not to mention when he was at Chelsea on the first team, it looked almost impossible to get the ball off of him. Kid has loads of potential and I expect ROBBIE to do the right thing!

I don't understand the problem... sit 7 field players behind the ball at all times. Clear it up to Drogba, who will have mata and torres to help embarrass the defense. i've been waiting for this all season

fair enough. You know I was thinking... As fans we get pissed about this stuff. Do you think some of the "old guard" at chelsea are still "friends" with J Cole? Personally, I don't give a f**k how much a player asks for when he thinks he won't be starting anymore and every time he steps on the field he hustles his balls off. But I understand the gripe.

what is that supposed to mean?

Just watched the last 25 of latest Lille vs PSG. Hazard scores a well placed PK (due to joe cole magic ball causing a red card foul on the lille striker). Then Hazard assists via Rabona. Then he switches the field via arial heel flick. Then he puts himself almost through on goal by chipping it over a defender's head and running right by. Quite impressive. HOWEVER!!! I still have doubts for his (and players like him in general) consistency and ability to "play with the big boys" as it were. P.S. I'd take Cole back over him any day

Just tuned into the 65th minute of the replay of Lille vs PSG from yesterday (?). Soon after I tuned in, cole sends their forward through on goal with a beautifully incisive pass, creating a red card and a pk for hazard (who later assists a goal via rabona lol). I miss you Joe Cole...

He's so frustrating... haha

My apologies if I am pointing out the obvious. Did anyone else think he looked like he was sort of... apologizing???